Method of side weaving fabric



I Feb. 29, 1944-. -s. L. HIEBER ET AL" 2,343,134

METHOD OF SIDE WEAVING FABRIC Filed A rii 2 2, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sorziafifiieler Wa i536? 116132111.

Feb. 29,1944. 5, HlEBER ETAL 2,343,184

METHOD OF SIDE WEAVING FABRIC Filed April 22, 194/2 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 S072 z'aL.Hz 'e}r Wale/219%? 35 flfilmer Z M SHVW Feb. 29 1944. 5, L, HIEBEfi Er AL 2,343,184

METHOD OF SIDE WEAVING FABRIC Filer; Apri1 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet-3 Feb. '29, 1944. I s, L" ER- ET AL 2,343,184

METHOD OF sinE WEAVING FABRIC I Filed April 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet} Patented Feb. 29, 1944 METHOD OF SIDE WEAVING FABRIC Sonia L. Hieber, William S. Hieber, and Irwin 0. Elmer, Atlanta, Ga.

Application April 22, 1942, Serial No. 440,069

7 Claims.

. This invention relatesxto the art of repairing fabrics by an improved method of reweaving.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved reweaving method by means of which a small piece of fabric is superposed on the main fabric over the damaged portion of the main fabric, and the marginal portions of the superposed fabric woven into the main fabric outwardly of the damaged portion, the main fabric strands then. being woven into the superposed fabric inwardly of the marginal edges of the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved. reweaving method, wherein the strands of the superposed fabric are anchored and rewoven to the main fabric, and the strands of the main fabric are anchored and rewoven to the superposed fabric..

The method of reweaving to be hereinafter described will be designated as .side weaving, in view of the fact that a superposed fabric is woven to a side of the main fabric, and the main fabric is woven to a side of the superposed fabric.

One of the most important steps in connection with the reweaving of the superposed fabric is the initial determination of the weave formula of the particular fabric. The term formula is herein defined as the specific weave, over and under, of the filler threads with respect to the warp threads. 'After a person hashad some experience in the reweaving of fabrics, he will be able to determine by. a visual inspection the correct formula of certain of the fabrics. The formula is initially determined by a careful examination of the damaged fabric. Where the fabric threads are fairly thick, this examination may be made by a visual inspection which may include pulling or raveling a number of warp threads, and at the same time jotting down on a piece of paper the progression of the warp threads, over and under the filler threads. As an example, the progression is noted as one over, one under, in a basket weave and is placed on the formula chart as follows:

Where a fabric has a design woven thereinto, a

1 determine the weave formula thereof.

In the event the threads of the fabric are fairly thin, it maybe necessary in the determination of the weave formula to inspect the fabric under a magnifying glass and to remove the warp and filler threads under the high-powered glass. In certain fabrics, the threads are of a loose twist, that is, the fibers are not tightly twisted together, so that the fibers of one thread intermingle with the fibers of an adjacent thread, thereby making it difiicult, if not impossible, to pull the threads apart, and at the same time, In a case of this kind, the fabric is dipped in molten wax. The hardened wax will firmly bind the fibers of each thread together, so that the warp and filler threads may be separated without damage thereto, and the threads which are to be used in the reweaving processto be hereinafter described, may be rewoven without damage thereto.

Where the fabric is waxed, the hardened wax will make each thread quite stiff, so that where the Warp threads are being removed, the filler threads, which lie under a warp thread, may be bent backward, and the filler threads which are over the warp threads may be bent forward. This procedure will make it easy to determine the count or formula, and the procedure as to determining the formula of the warp threads is also repeated as to'the filler threads.

It is known that a method has been devised by means of which a patch is secured within a hole of a fabric, the hole being enlarged or reformed so that the unfrayed portion of the patch willhave a configuration coincident with the hole. This'method is impractical from the standpoint of the customer, in that the inserted patch is not firmly anchored to the fabric, and the fabric is not firmly anchored to the patch, with the result that the patch will pull out under normal stresses, and in addition the patch is not invisible. By the method to be hereinafter described, the strands or threads of the superposed fabric are woven into themain fabric with a weave identical with the weave formula, and the strands or threads of the main fabric about the damaged portion of the latter are woven into the superposed fabric with the same weave formula as the formula of the main fabric, so that the damaged portion of the main fabric will become amalgamated with the superposed fabric and the latter will become amalgamated with the main fabric so as to thereby render the superposed fabric and the damaged portion invisible.

To the foregoing objects and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of a fabric having a damaged area or hole therem,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the first step in repairing the fabric by superposing a small piece of similar fabric there- Figure 2a is a diagrammatic view of the superposed fabric showing the superposed fabric as it would appear removed from the fabric,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the outer marginal portions of the superposed fabric rewoven into the main fabric,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a por tion of the main fabric and the outer corner portion of the superposed fabric rewoven into the main fabric,

Figure 5a is a fragmentary plan View of the main fabric showing the initial step in reweaving the damaged area thereof to the superposed fabric,

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the initial step of preparing the damaged area of the main fabric for reweaving onto the superposed fabric,

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 'l'| of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, but showing the superposed fabric and the main fabric rewoven together,

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view in plan showing the completed method of reweaving the superposed and the main fabric together, and

- Figure 10 is a plan view of the central portion of the main fabric showing more clearly the manner in which the main and superposed fabric are rewoven together about the damaged area.

Heretofore, attempts have been made to provide an improved method of repairing a fabric by securing a patch to the fabric. One known method is to provide a patch slightly larger in size than the hole and to then cut the hole of the fabric to conform to the configuration of the patch. The marginal edges of the patch are then frayed out, leaving the body of the patch equal in size to the size of the reformed hole in the fabric. This method, however, is unsatisfactory in View of the fact that the method of attaching the patch to the main fabric does not provide a firm means for holding or anchoring the patch,.with the result that the patch pulls out, and in addition, the known prior methods do not include the method of additionally reweaving the main fabric to the patch and thereby rendering the completed operation invisible.

In Figure 1, there is disclosed in diagrammatic form a fabric designated l5 which has a hole or damaged area It therein. In order to effectively repair the damaged fabric so that the completedlrepair thereof cannot readily be detected and is in fact invisible from the outer side of the fabric, it is necessary to initially determine the weave formula of the fabric i5. This formula constitutes the specific manner in which the filler or weft yarn is woven with respect to the warp. In the drawings, there is disclosed one weave formula, which is known as a tabby weave, wherein the filler or weft yarn is woven one over and one under the warp. The method to be hereinafter described, however, may be used with any type or formula of weave, it being understood that the weave formula herein disclosed is merely an illustrative example.

After the weave formula of the-fabric if: has been accurately determined, either by way of a visual inspection of the fabric, under a magnifying glass or other means, a small piece of fabric, generally designated as IT, is removed from a remote portion of a garment. This fabric I! is to be referred to hereinafter as a superposed fabric, and is considerably larger in size than the hole H5. The superposed fabric Ill is substantially square in plan although, if desired, it may be made rectangular depending upon the configuration of the hole or damaged portion It. The fabric i1 is identical in weave to the weave of the fabric I5.

The superposed fabric H is initially out at one corner, as indicated at it, and the filler threads 59 are then removed for thelength of the cut it, thereby leaving extended warp strands 2H. In practice it is only necessary to initially form one cut l8 and remove the filler threads Hi from one edge of the superposed fabric lL: The super posed fabric I! is then laid over the hole or damaged area lt so that this hole will be substantially in the center of the superposed fabric H, as shown in Figure 2, and so that the warp and filler threads of the main fabric will correctly match with the warp and filler threads of the superposed fabric. A latched needle similar to the needle disclosed in the. co-pending application of William S. Hieber, Sonia L. Hieber and Irwin C. Elmer, Ser. No. 40,063, filed of even date herewith, is used in the reweaving operation and woven over and under the filler or weft threads of the fabric l5 from a point outwardly of the ends of the extended warp threads 20, and at the same time, the needle is projected or threaded lengthwise into and out of a fabric warp strand 2| after the manner shown in Figure 11 of the copending application supra.

The hook of the needle is then engaged with one of the new warp threads 20 and this thread is then rewoven outwardly so that it will be disposed over and under the filler threads 22 of the fabric [5 and also interlocked and anchored relative to a warp strand 2 I. The effect of the projecting into or interlocking of the strands 26 with the strands 2|, as indicatedat 23, is to provide an anchoring means for the warp strands 20 so that they will be interlocked with the strands 2| and will'be thereby firmly held in position.

In Figure 3, the warp threads 26 of the superposed fabric are shown in a position overlying the main fabric 15 and disposed a substantial distance outwardly from the damaged area Hi. In Figure 4, a warp thread 29 is shown entirely re- Woven over and under the filler threads 22 of the main fabric l5 and interlaced into and anchored relative to warp threads of the main fabric l5. This procedure isthen' continued to the next adjacent edge of the superposed fabric Ii, wherein the filler threads 24 of the superposed fabric I! are rewoven over and under thewarp threads 2| of the fabric l5, similar to the weaving of the warp threads, shown in Figure 4 and interlaced as at 25 with the filler threads 22 of the main fabric H5. The superposed fabric H is then out along the line 25. (Figure 2) fora distance about equal to the first cut I8, g r M At this time, the w'arpthreads 20- of the superposed fabric I! will be entirely rewoven over; and under the filler threads 22 of th fabric iii, as shown in'Figure 5, andthe weft threads fii l of the superposed fabric I1 will be rewoven over and under the warp threads 2 I. In Figure 5, the fabric is shown with the threads or yarn thereof spread apart an exaggerated distance to clear 1y illustrate the manner in which the warp and filler or weft threads of the superposed fabric I! are rewoven into and interlaced and anchored relative to the main fabric I5.

After the marginal edges of the superposed fabric I 7 have been entirely rewoven into the main fabric I5, the partially interwoven fabrics are then turned over so as to positionthe superposed fabric Il lowermost. At this time, the superposed fabric I1 will appear, as shown in Figure 6, and the mainfabric I is then formed with pairs of oppositely extending slits 27 and 28. The slits 21 extend lengthwise of the Warp threads, thereby cuttingthe filler or weft threads, and the slits 28 out through the warp th eads so that in the spaces 29 and 35 between the slits 21 and 28, repsectively, the filler threads and the warp threads which have been out between the slits 2! and 28 are removed.

This procedure provides for a plurality of right angularly disposed warp and filler or weft threads which have free inner ends, the free ends being formed by the damaged area or hole iii. In the right angular areas 3| between a slit 2! and a slit 28, the warp and filler threads are separated from each other, that is, in the weavin originally performed the filler threads 24 are unwoven from the warp threads to a point at the outer ends of the slits 28, and the warp threads are unwoven from the filler threads to a point at the outer ends of the slits 21. The separated warp and filler threads in the loosened areas 3| will then appear, as shown in Figure 5a. The warp threads 2| of the fabric I5 are then rewoven over and under the filler threads 24 of the superposed fabric I'I inwardly from the extended portions a thereof in the same manner as the extended portions of the superposed fabric I! were rewoven into the main fabric I5.

After the warp threads 2| have been completely rewoven into the weft or filler threads of the superposed fabric H, the Weft or filler threads 22 are'likewise rewoven over and under the Warp threads In Figure 10. there is disclosed the completion of the reweaving of the central portion of the superposed fabric I? with respect to the main fabric !5. It will be noted from this figure that there are no free edges remaining as to the main fabric I5. as the warp and filler or weft threads have been completely rewoven into the superposed fabric I1.

In Figure 8, the two fabrics are shown fra mentarily in section completely woven together, wherein it will be noted that at a point inwardly from the extended portions Zlla of the Superposed fabric I1 and outwardly from the hole H5, there are two layers of fabrics. The provision of reweaving the main fabric IE to the superposed fabric I'l around the hole I 5 provides for additional anchoring means for the superposed fabrics IT so that when the fabric is in normal use. thefabric I! will not readily pull out and. will give substantially the same strength to the fabric as was originally provided.

While the method securing the superposed fabric- I'I to the ,main fabric I5 has been set .forth as proceeding initially from the marginal portions of the superpqsed fabric I'I, it will be understood that this procedure may be reversed, that is, the main fabric I5 about the damaged portion I6 thereof may initially be rewoven to the superposed fabric I7.

' When the superposed fabric I 7 has been finally amalgamated with the main fabric I5 by reweaving of these two fabrics together, th connecting points or edges of these two fabricswill not be discernible except by examination with a light on one side of the fabric which will disclose the additional warp and weft-threads of the superposed fabric interlaced with the warp and weft threads of the main fabric.

This same, method of reweaving superposed fabric to the main fabric can also be made at an edge of the main fabric in order to provide for an extension ofthe fabric. The same procedure will be followed, that is, the superposed fabric'is placed on one face of the main fabric inwardly from an edge thereof which will be the damaged edge of the main fabric, and the overlying edges of the superposed fabric are then rewoven onto the main fabric, as hereinbefore described. The outer edge of the main fabric underlying the superposed fabric may also be rewoven into the warp and weft threads of the superposed fabric, so that when this operation has been completed, there will be provided an extending fabric which is firmly secured to the main fabric.

It will be understood that in certain instances, the marginal portions of the main fabric may be damaged and the only way in which the main fabric can be repaired is by providing an extending piece of material. This extension will appear similar to a portion of Figures 7 and 8, the damaged portion I6 of these figures being the outer I damaged edges of the main fabric.

What we claim is:

1. The method of reweaving a fabric having a hole or damaged area which includes superposing a second fabric on the first fabric which has a size greater than the size of the hole or damaged area, forming outwardly extending strands about the marginal edges of the second fabric, reweavin the outwardly extending strands into the first fabric, forming opposed inwardly extending strands about the marginal edges of the hole or damaged area, and finally reweaving said inwardly extending strands into said second fabric.

2. The method of reweaving a fabric having a hole or damaged area which includes superposing a second fabric on the first fabric which has a size greater than the size of the hole or damaged area, reweaving the marginal portions of the second fabric into the first fabric, and reweaving that portion of the first fabric about the hole or damaged area into the second fabric.

3. The method of reweaving a fabric having a hole or damaged area which includes reweaving the marginal edges of a superposed fabric into the first fabric, reweaving that portion of the first fabric about the hole into the superposed fabric, and anchoring the rewoven portions of one fabric to the other fabric by interlocking aligning strands.

4. The method of reweaving a fabric having a hole or damaged area which includes superposing a fabric onto the first fabric with the adjacent edges of the superposed fabric right angularly disposed, cutting out a substantially square piece of materia1 from each corner of the superposed fabric, removing those strands of the superposed fabric which are parallel with an edge of the latter and which were cut at the opposite ends thereof by cutting of the material from each corner to thereby provide extended warp and filler strands, reweaving the extended warp and filler strands into the first fabric, cutting pairs of slits in the first fabric outwardly of said hole or damaged area, removing the cut strands between each pair of slits thereby providing inwardly extending warp and filler strands, and finally reweaving said inwardly extended warp and filler strands into the superposed fabric.

5. The method of securing a small piece of fabric onto a large piece of fabric which includes forming outwardl extending warp and filler strands about the edges of the small fabric, reweaving the extended strands of the small fabric into the warp and filler strands of the large fabric, and interlocking the respective extended strands with the warp and filler strands of the large fabric.

6. The method of securing a small piece of fabric onto a large piece of fabric which includes reweaving the warp and filler strands at the marginal edges of the small fabric into the large fabric and anchoring the rewoven warp and filler strands by interlocking thereof with the corresponding warp and filler strands of the large fabric.

'7. The method of securing a small piece of fabric onto a larg piece of fabric which includes forming extended warp and filler strands about certain of the marginal edges of the small fabric, forming free warp and, filler strands in the large fabric, reweaving the extended warp and filler strands of the small fabric into the large fabric in spaced relation with respect to the free warp and filler strands of the large fabric, drawing said extended strands lengthwise into the warp and filler strands of the large fabric, reweaving the free warp and filler strands of the large fabric into the small fabric in spaced relation with respect to the weaving of the warp and filler strands of the small fabric, and drawing said warp and filler strands of the large fabric into the warp and filler strands respectively of the small fabric.

SONIA L. HIEBER. WILLIAM: S. HIEBER. IRVJIN C. ELMER. 

